French metal band Gojira has confirmed that drummer Mario Duplantier will miss some upcoming shows on the band's US tour due to an "immigration issue that has made it impossible for him to travel to the US." Luigi Paraventi, a musician known for his work with Paleface Swiss and social media covers, will step in as a temporary replacement.
The band playfully leaned into the gaming connection in their announcement, stating, "Player 2 has entered game. RESPECT!" and accompanying the message with an image of the iconic Nintendo characters Mario and Luigi. Duplantier expressed his regret, with the band noting he is "heartbroken not to be here with us and has fought hard every step of the way to find a solution." No further details regarding the immigration issue were provided.
Gojira's US tour commenced on July 16 at Rock Fest in Wisconsin and is scheduled to conclude with a series of summer festival performances in September.